ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. — The New York Department of Corrections’ new automated central pharmacy is on schedule to be completed next spring and DOC officials predict it will save taxpayers $1.5 million a year.

Construction is nearing completion on the 60,500-square-foot building at the Mid-State Correctional facility in Marcy, which will contain a registered pharmacy with automated dispensing equipment. With a capacity to fill 5,000 prescriptions a day for all state corrections facilities, the computerized operation will eliminate the need for all but emergency medication purchases from outside vendors.

The new building is also slated for LEED certification and will also house the DOC’s medication warehouse and administrative offices.